Throwout device for door operators



p 4, 1951 A. H. SAUTER 2,567,029

THROW OUT DEVICE FOR DOOR OPERATORS Filed Feb. 26, 1948" z a #IN VEN TOR.

Patented Sept. 4, 1951 'rrmowoo'r DEVICE FOR noon OPERATORS Alfred H. Sauter, Riverside. 111., assignor to H. W. 2 Crane Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 26, 1948, Serial No. 11,289

This invention relates to door opening and closing apparatus and more particularly to a mechanism for readily connecting a door to and disconnecting it from a trolley or the like.

Electrically operated door openers are often installed in garages, warehouses, stores and other buildings located where there are frequent power outages. Very often during such power outages it is necessary to manually open a door which is controlled by an operator. With conventional door openers as soon as the power to the unit is shut off a brake automatically locks the component parts of the unit in position. Consequently to manually raise the door would require the application of a force of sufficient magnitude to overcome the brake and the inertia of the moving power parts of the opener. This would in most cases require a special force applying means or brake release mechanism both of which are undesirable from a cost standpoint and increasing the complexity of the unit. Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide a novel connecting mechanism between the door and the trolley which permits the door to be quickly and readily disconnected from the trolley and which permits the door to be readily fastened to the trolley again as desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel connecting means between the door and the trolley which is positive in its action, which is simple in construction, which has a minimum number of parts, which is compact and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel mechanism of the above character which can be readily adjusted to a length corresponding to the distance between the trolley and the door so as to facilitate initial installation of the mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an overhead door installation utilizing a mechanism embodying the present invention for connecting the door with the trolley;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view similar to Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the mechanism disconnected from the trolley.

4 Claims. (Cl. 268-58) nism is used, follows. The trolley I2 is mounted in a conventional manner as by rollers 13 and M on an overhead rail suitably supported on the interior of a building of which only the wall It? having the door H is shown. The back and forth movement of the trolley l2 on the rail 15 1 controls the opening and closing of the door ll.

The invention is shown embodied in a mecha- I nism for connecting a door II to a trolley I2. To better understand the invention a brief description of the components with which the mecha:

Thus, as the trolley moves to the left as shown in Figure 1 the door is raised to an open position and when the trolley 12 is moved to the position as shown in Figure l the door is closed. In opening, the door II is moved from a vertical position to ahorizontal position. To this end the door II is guided by conventional tracks or door guides H on opposite sides of the door shaped to receive rollers I8 mounted on opposite sides of the door. The tracks H are of suitable shape to guide the door to the desired position and are supported in a conventional manner on the end wall l6.

One aspect of the invention is to provide a mechanism wherein the door may be quickly and readily connected ,to and disconnected from the trolley as desired and which may be manufactured in a relatively inexpensive manner. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the mechanism includes an arm or link l9 pivotally connected at one end to an angle iron 2|, secured to the top of the door H, and having its opposite end in the form of a jaw portion 22 (see Fig. 4) engageable with a projection or pin 23 rigid with the trolley ii. A bell crank lever 24 is pivotally mounted on the link [9 as by a pin 26 and has a jaw portion 2i engageable with the projection 23. In one position of the lever 24 the jaw portion 21' coacts with the jaw portion 22 to secure the mechanism in an assembled relation with the trolley and in another position of the lever 24 the jaw portion 2? is positioned so that the arm l9 may be readily connected to or disconnected from the trolley l2. Provision is made for normally urging the jaw portions 22 and 21 to the position in which the respective jaw portions coact to secure the arm ii! in an assembled relation with the projection 23.

As shown in Fig. 4 the jaw portion 22 is formed by a recess 28 on an upwardly facing edge of the arm [9 shaped to receive the pin 23. The Jaw portion 21 on the bell crank lever 24 is also formed by a recess 29 on an edge thereof shaped to receive the pin 23. The respective recesses 28 and 29 are positioned so that with the bell crank 24, in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the side wall 3| defining the recess 29 bridges the outer ends of the side wallsdefiningthe recess 28 and thus in effect serves to lock the pin 23 in the recess 28. The side wall 3| is sufficiently short so that when the bell crank lever 24 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 4 the mouths of the respective recesses are in substantial alinement. In this position the arm I9 may be either connected to or disconnected from the trolley I2.

Resilient means is utilized for maintaining the bell crank 24in a position such' that the side wall 31 bridges the recess 28. To this end a spring 32 is stretched between a lug 33 extending laterally of the arm I9 on the side thereof away. from-the recess 28 and a hook 34 formed on the bell crank" lever 24. As shown in Figs.-1 and 2when the jaw: portions 22 and 2! encircle- =the pin 23 theline in which the spring force acts does not coincide with the line determined-by-the:pivotal pin; 26 of the lever 24 and the spring connections with the lug 33 and the hook 34. This means' therefore that a pressure is constantly being exerted b ;v the spring 32 to causethe-Jaw portionii of; the bell crank lever 24 tomove into engagement with the pin 23'. With-this construction a .positive locking action bygthe side wail-3i is assured.

Provision is made wherein a force may be .applied to the bell crank-lever torotatethe latter to a point where the mouths'ofthe -recesses;28- I and 29 are in a position-inwhichthe arm I9 may be readily connectedzto ondisconnected from the trolley I 2. For this purpose a ring 36 with a cord 37 is attached tol-thehook 34" to hang. downwardly as shown-inFigure- 1,. Inasmuch as the. height of the trolley, IZ'is determinedby the individual installation, .thelength of thecord may be adjusted as required. When it ;is 'desired to disconnect the door II fromthetrolley I2 it is only,

necessary to pull the cord-3l downwardly. This causes the bellcrank 24 torotate. clockwise about the pin 26 against the action: of the spring. 32 to: a position where the side Wall 3'lyis moved outof the position in which it bridges the mouth ofthe recess 28 as shown in Fig.2 to gthe position: in which the mouth of-the recess 23 is unobstructed as shown in Fig. 4. Normally the'we'ight of..the arm I 9, lever 2,spring 32 and cord 36 is such that the action of gravity causes. tha'arm-to become: detached from the trolley:- It is to .beunderstoodthat to connect the mechanism to: the:tro1leyt the cord 37 is first pulled-as above to bring: the mouths of the recessesZB and-29 intoisubstantial alinement for the reception of the pin-23 m the trolley." The arm I9 is thenpositi'oned on the trolley. The cord .3? is released and the springl32 acts-to rotate the bell crank lever 24-to the position 'shownlin Fig. 2 in which the-jaw pOrtions'QZ-and 21 engage the pin 23.

The available head room in a garage -and-the like necessarily dictates the height of 'the trolley- Accordingly difierent lengths of the arm I9 are required; Consequently; one: phase of this invention is concerned'with the-pro vision of means for-adjusting the length of-the arm I9 to suit an individual installation." To'this end the arm I9 is formed in two parts- 38 and 39, one of which is adjustable relative to the other."

I2 from the door.

As shown in Fig: 4 the part 39--is"iormed with a plurality of spaced holes-4t.

ter of moving the parts 38 and 39 relativ-e toeach holes.

The above construjctioniicanbereadily manu factured. The portions '38:" 3'9 and bell crank" The parts 33; and 39 are normally'held together'bybolts' 42; To ad-' just the length'of thearrn I9itis-simply'a mat- 4 lever 24 may be readily formed as metal stampings, simple castings and the like and consequently machining and manufacturing costs are minimized. The above construction is compact, simple and is positive in its action.

While I have shown one embodiment of my invention it will be understood that I do not Wish to be limited; thereto sincemany imodifications maybe-m'adeand I therefore contemplate by the claims to cover such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. The combination of an overhead trolley or the likeniovable between preselected positions and-'having- -a projection formed thereon, and a door arranged'to'bemoved between an open and a closed position with a rigid link having a notch for receiving said projection formed along one edge -thereof adjacent one end and having its opposite end arranged to be pivotally connected to. the door; a bell. crank. lever pivotally. mounted on said. link. and inovable between' preselected positions, said leverhavinga notch formedalong; one edge defined byzside walls for receivingsaid projection, means for: maintaining said... bell cranklever in one-position in which oneeofhthe side-walls of thenotchonthe bellscrank lever bridges the-mouth. ofzhthe notch iormedion the link to form a lockingponnection betweerrthe projection and link .tossecure.thedoorztothe trolley to effect movement'oflthe forn1er:in.;re-. sponse to. movement .oflthe latter,..and .means." for applying a. 1orce =to.said bell cranl;:lever for moving the latter :against the action of ;vthe last mentioned means to move the :bell-scranki levertto: a position in whichthemouthsof the respective notches are positioned...to;.permit the link to'bei connected to and disconnectedirozn the trolley;

2. In a mechanismefor quickly, attachingand releasing, a door or the like to and from anovere head trolley; or the like-having a projection or the: like. formed thereon, ,theeombination of .a dink; arranged to be attached to; a doorat. oneend andv havinga filStjQW-DOIt-ZOZI for :receiving said projeotion at itsnopposite end, said, link having al lug extending-laterally:thereof on the side of the link away=from the jaw portion, a lever .piva- Qtally mounted onssaid ilink for movement-low tween preselected. positions and: having .a second jaw portion, in one nosition'of thele'vensaid second law 'portionnshaped'.toreceive said projection and to coact with said first jaw portion to secure said link:.and:lever in an assembled relation with-said projection and in another position of. the lever-witl1 respect to the link per-x mitting'the-link and lever-Lto' .be connected :to

and disconnected from .the'projection, said :lever having a hook'eformedthereon in theplane-iof the link spaced from the second jaw portlbna and spring: meansxacting between saidxlu'g and said hook to urgethe jawportionsto a position forlsecurlng the-link'and lever in an assembled relation with the projection.

31 In a mechanism-for quickly attachingand releasing a dOQT'OI" thelike to and from anover' head trolley or th'elike having a projectionformed thereon, the combination of an' arm ar-- sitions and having -a fseco'nd jaw portion'fshaped.

'- in one position" of the lever to' receive said projection and coacting with said first jaw portion to secure said arm in an assembled relation with said projection and in another position of the lever permitting the arm to be engaged with and disengaged from the projection, said lever having a hook formed thereon in the plane of the lever, and spring means acting between said lug and said hook to urge the jaw portions to a position for securing the arm in an assembled relation with the projection, said spring means being disposed laterally of the arm and the lever and substantially in the plane thereof to form a narrow compact structure.

4. The combination of an overhead trolley movable between preselected positions and having a projection formed thereon, a door arranged to be moved between an open and a closed position, a rigid arm attached at one end to said door and having a first jaw portion for receiving said projection at its opposite end, a lever pivotally mounted on said arm for movement between first and second positions and having a second jaw portion, said second jaw portion in the first position of the lever shaped to receive said projection and to coact with said first jaw portion to secure said arm in assembled relation with said projection to secure the door to the ALFRED n. SAUTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 974,566 Giles Nov. 1, 1910 1,043,177 Waibel Nov. 5, 1912 1,641,551 Rudberg Sept. 6, 1927 2,072,525 Mann Mar. 2, 1937 2,134,615 Lamb Oct. 25, 1938 2,175,651 Thomas Oct. 10, 1939 2,269,759 Dollins Jan. 13, 1942 2,312,475 Peterson Mar. 2, 1943 2,330,533. Wiley Sept. 28, 1943 2,442,295 Kuendel May 25, 1948 

